Growth and Crisis in Colonial Society

Chapter 4

Key Questions/Ideas

• What were the British policies toward colonies and how did they change?

• How was the French and Indian War a turning How was the French and Indian War a turning point in the development of America?point in the development of America?

• What were the emerging differences between American colonies? (sectionalism)

Mercantilism

• That every inch of a country's soil be utilized for agriculture, mining or manufacturing. • That all raw materials found in a country be used in domestic manufacture, since finished

goods have a higher value than raw materials. • That a large, working population be encouraged. • That all export of gold and silver be prohibited and all domestic money be kept in circulation. • That all imports of foreign goods be discouraged as much as possible. • That where certain imports are indispensable they be obtained at first hand, in exchange for

other domestic goods instead of gold and silver. • That as much as possible, imports be confined to raw materials that can be finished [in the

home country]. • That opportunities be constantly sought for selling a country's surplus manufactures to

foreigners, so far as necessary, for gold and silver. • That no importation be allowed if such goods are sufficiently and suitably supplied at home.

• A country’s ultimate goal was self-sufficiency and all countries were in a competition to acquire the most gold/silver (fixed amount) – focus on balance of trade

Navigation Acts• Began in 1651

• A series of laws restricting colonial trade– American colonists were smuggling goods

• Spain, France, Holland

Navigation Acts• Rules:

– No country could trade with the colonies unless the goods were shipped in either colonial or English ships

– All vessels had to be operated by crews at least ¾ English (incl. colonial)

– Most products only exported from colonies to England

– Goods had to pass through an English port before being traded with Europe

Navigation Acts• Results:

– Increased tax revenue for England– English jobs on docks– Colonial shipbuilding/shipping boomed

Continued Colonial Problems

• King Charles II in 1684 finally cracks down on colonial smuggling

• Puritans resisted royal authority

• King revokes corporate charter, now a royal charter strict control

Dominion of New England

• James II, 1685 places colonies from Maine to New Jersey under one ruler Sir Edmund Andros– “You have no more privileges left you, than not to be

sold for slaves”– Enforced Navigation Acts– Questioned Puritan religion– Levied taxes without local input

• Increase Mather sent from colonies to England in 1688 to negotiate a return to old charter, but………………………………………………..

Glorious Revolution

• James II fathered a son in 1688!

• William of Orange and Mary (James’ daughter) invited to rule, 1689– Bloodless revolution in England and colonies– Charter restored

• Changes– King appointed governor– More religious toleration

Charles II

James II

William and Mary

Salutary Neglect

• Tougher laws, but not really enforced– (as long as colonies supplied raw materials)

+ =

Salutary Neglect

• 1607-1696– No real imperial policy

• 1696-1763– Navigation Acts not

enforced*

• 1763-1775– Attempts to enforce laws end

“Salutary Neglect”

Colonists left to govern themselves helps colonists form a collective identity

The Duel for North America

1608-1763

France Finds a Foothold in Canada

• Similar to the English and Dutch, France was late to colonization– 1500s: religious wars (Protestant

vs. Catholic) and foreign wars• In 1534, the French explorer Jacques

Cartier came to Canada and claimed it for France.

• 16th century French efforts to establish settlements in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia failed

– In 1598, the Edict of Nantes was issued by the crown of France

– Limited religious freedom to Huguenots (Fr Protestants)• Stopped internal religious wars

France Finds a Foothold in Canada

• In 1608, France established Quebec– Leading figure was Samuel de Champlain

• Soldier and explorer whose energy and leadership earned him the title "Father of New France“

• Entered into friendly relations with the neighboring Huron Indians and helped them defeat the Iroquois

– Iroquois would hamper French expansion into Ohio River Valley later

• The government of New France(Canada) was under direct controlof the king– The people did not

elect any representative assemblies

Quebec

France Finds a Foothold in Canada

• No massive French immigration to North America– Peasants were too poor– Huguenots weren’t allowed into “New

France• Went to other areas

– No popular assemblies– No trial by jury– Young men recruited into army– West Indies favored

“Daughters of the King”Filles du roi

• Only 12% of the emigrants to Canada in the 17th century were female

• Most of these were “daughters of the king”– From an orphanage in

Paris – Given a dowry to come

to North America– Expected to marry

quickly after arriving

http://www.fillesduroi.org/src/Filles_list.htm

New France Sets Out• New France’s (Canada) one valuable resource

was the beaver • Beaver hunters were known as the coureurs de

bois • Monopolies were granted (trusts) by royal

charter• French voyageurs also recruited Indians to hunt

for beaver as well– Indians were decimated by diseases– The beaver population was also heavily decimated

• French Catholic missionaries (Jesuits) zealously tried to convert Indians

– Met Native Americans in their homes, lived with them, learned their language

• Louisiana (New Orleans most important city) was founded, in 1682, to thwart Spanish expansion into the area near the Gulf of Mexico

Loss of “safety net”, reliance on one resource?

The Clash of Empires• The Battle for Supremacy in North America England vs. France

• King William's War (1689-1697)– French raided English outposts and settlements on the frontier– Resulted in status quo

• Queen Anne's War (1702-1713)

• Treaty of Utrecht (1713)– Britain received French-populated Acadia, Newfoundland, and the Hudson

Bay– The British also won limited trading rights in Spanish America

• King George’s War (1744-1748)– Colonists captured Fort Louisbourg from French– Treaty handed Louisbourg back to France enraging the victorious New

Englanders

French and Indian War or Seven Years’ War

• England and France fighting for colonial supremacy around the world

Washington Inaugurates War with France

• 1753 George Washington delivers message to French in Ohio Country

• In 1754, Washington sent back to Ohio Country with larger force– Virginia militia engage a small French party, then retreat and build Ft.

Necessity– Virginians were forced to surrender on July 4, 1754

• 1755 British and French both send forces to North America, increased hostilities– British also uprooted the French Acadians and scattered them

• French are fortifying Fort Duquesne• English assign General Edward Braddock to take Ft.

Duquesne

Global War and Colonial Disunity

• The French and Indian War (Seven Years' War) started in 1754– It was fought in America, Europe, the West Indies, the

Philippines, Africa, and on the ocean

• In Europe, the principal adversaries were Britain and Prussia on one side and France, Spain, Austria, and Russia on the other

• The French used so many troops in Europe that they were unable to put enough forces into America

• The Albany Congress met in 1754– Only 7 of 13 colony delegates showed up– It attempted to unite all of the colonies but the plan was hated by

individual colonists and the London regime 

Braddock's Blundering and Its Aftermath

• General Braddock set out in 1755 with 2,000 men to capture Fort Duquesne– His force was slaughtered by the much smaller

French and Indian army Braddock's Blunder– Due to this loss of troops, the whole frontier from PA

to NC was left open to attack– George Washington, with only 300 men, tried to

defend the area

• In 1756, the British launched full-scale invasion of Canada

Pitt's Palms of Victory

• In 1757, William Pitt became the foremost leader in the London government– He was known as the "Great Commoner“– He ordered attack that led to capture of Louisbourg in 1758– Ft. Duquesne also captured in 1758 by British

• To lead the attack in the Battle of Quebec in 1759, Pitt chose James Wolfe– Opposing armies faced each other on the Plains of Abraham,

British under Wolfe and French under Marquis de Montcalm– British won

• Montreal fell in 1760 to General Jeffrey Amherst• The Treaty of Paris (1763) ended the conflict

Treaty of Paris

• 1763– Eliminated France as a colonial power in North

America• Canada to England• Land east of Mississippi to England

– Except New Orleans

• (Land west of Mississippi to Spain)• West Indies were redistributed

– Many had been captured by opposing sides during the war

Effects of the F & I War• Colonies

– Gained self-confidence and military experience

– Saw the need for colonial unity to meet common problems, now had experience

– Had the danger of attack by French and certain Indian tribes removed from the frontier (less dependent on English support)

– Colonial military leaders angry few Americans were promoted in British army*

• Britain– Had neglected the colonies,

who had developed self-government and had been evading Br. Mercantilist restrictions

• Had not helped sufficiently with soldiers or supplies in the war against France

• Colonies had gained much from the victory

• Upset colonists had traded with Spanish and West Indies

• Should pay at least part of the cost of the war

– Debt had doubled

Explain the Paradox• Crocodile Dilemma: If a crocodile steals a

child and promises its return if the father can correctly guess what the crocodile will do, how should the crocodile respond in the case that the father guesses that the child will not be returned?

• Intentionally blank page: Many documents contain pages on which the text "This page is intentionally left blank" is printed, thereby making the page not blank.

Period __ Paradoxes

BritishBritish

• March in formation or March in formation or bayonet charge bayonet charge

• Br. officers wanted toBr. officers wanted to take charge of colonials take charge of colonials

• Prima Donna Br. Prima Donna Br. officers with servants officers with servants & tea settings & tea settings

• Drills & toughDrills & tough discipline discipline

• Colonists should payColonists should pay for their own defense for their own defense

• Indian-style guerillaIndian-style guerilla tactics tactics

• Col. militias servedCol. militias served under own captains under own captains

• No mil. deference orNo mil. deference or protocols observed protocols observed

• Resistance to risingResistance to rising taxes taxes

• Casual, Casual, non-professionals non-professionals

Methods ofMethods ofFighting:Fighting:

MilitaryMilitaryOrganization:Organization:

MilitaryMilitaryDiscipline:Discipline:

Finances:Finances:

Demeanor:Demeanor:

British-American Colonial British-American Colonial TensionsTensions

British-American Colonial British-American Colonial TensionsTensions

ColonialsColonials

Key Paradox (?)

• According to Bailey and Kennedy:

Britain’s victory over France – which the British colonists officially supported – actually created new sources of tension between Americans and the mother country